Stand out phono stages

I just came back from a demo of three superb phono stages,in a system consisting of three different mfgrs electronics.All running the JM Labs Nova Utopia Be speakers,in a huge room,with all Nordost Odin cabling.Imposing,and very expensive!!All digital comparisons were either the top DCS or in the case of Zanden's demo,the Zanden CD system.
I've heard this speaker,many times,and in the same room,aplenty,and I really like them.....Just some opinions...
Firstly,the price of "anything" not made in the USA is getting absurd!Of course the US dollar is big time "low",but someone with good experience can do well,financially,with local mfgrs.For the first time(for me) I can truly see why many folks look to the Far East mfgrs,in an effort to save money.This HUGE price chasm seems to be more than economy(or performance)to be honest(only my opinion).Highly polished chrome,and solid aluminum chasis(even in "some" areas not always needed,for sonics)add big time to price.
OK,my point....if you have a really good system,and have spent much time tweaking/modding/voicing it,be "thrilled",because the very exotic/expensive stuff does not be too far ahead of "well thought out" alternatives,like many experienced guys "here" have mentioned they own.
To the superb demo....First up VAC's 150 wpc stereo amp,with the NEW preamp with built in phonostage,we started out with the DCS and though it was OK(46,000 dollar digital front end)I simply cannot see the big difference between something like a 9,000 dollar Audio Research CD player(CD-7)and "these" mega buck two box units.Maybe I'm losing some hearing.
Swithching to vinyl,made the DCS stuff(to me,and only an opinion)sound "flat,lifeless,and thin".Sorry!....THIS using a top Brinkman Table(gorgeous table and arm,btw)with "only" a Lyra Helikon.Not close,to "me"!More realistic warmth,depth yadda,yadda,yadda.The VAC built in phonostage is absolutely superb,and Kevin Hayes stated it was NOT close to being broken in.Damn good,to me.Loved it!
Next up ZANDEN(all Zanden,incl CD system,the two boxer).CD play was warmer(in a good way)than the DCS.Still knowing what vinyl was about to do,I could NOT get excited,and I DO own a fine CD player,for music unavailable on LP.
We moved to LP,and heard the difference when the RIAA feature was used(on that phono stage),using a good Decca LP.It was not bad before,and I'm not going to run out and buy it,but there was definitely better stage,and depth,with more "thereness" utilizing the RIAA feature on that Phono Stage.The thig that I LOVED about the Zanden phono stage was an uncanny sense of tonal beauty(not coloration,Imo)in female vocals.The Cantate Domino LP really was amazingly "real".Of course the Zanden is about 25 to 30 grand(just for phono stage),but wonderful....BTW,the VAC,with a price of 18,500 dollars(linestage included)really held up well,and seemed a superb design,BUT the Zanden is everything my friends have told me it was.Fabulous!
BTW,the Zanden amps were only 60 wpc,but did the BIG speakers(in a big room) justice.
Finally,HP's latest rave...The HUGE VTL mono amps(800wpc),with the Full Monty of VTL stuff,incl seperate Phonostage,but back to the DCS demoing digital first,which sounded slightly cold compared to the Zanden CD player.BIG bass though(with those 800 wpc)and some guys loved "that" bass sound.
Then VTL phono stage,and I am sorry to say the two previous sets of electronics were more convincing to me.The VTL amps seemed to be voiced to give real JOLT,and I think the speaker,which is really quite efficient,did not need this magnitude of power.It just sounded OK,to me(I don't think the "tube" topology in the VTL stuff was to my tastes).....Whereas the VAC and Zanden demo BOTH had me "thinking real",with my eyes closed,especially on the Cantate Domino LP.STUNNING!!

Yet,and Yet...I really have to give credit to my various friends' systems,who have spent years voicing/toying/modding,and just being good/experienced hobbyists.The actual difference(I know this was a dealer demo,and a very well-done one,but I know the speaker well,and it WAS being driven superbly)between "this" 350-400 thousand dollar set-up,and the "mere" around high five figure(really high) set-ups of my pals was "not" all that big.Definitely "gorgeous" and wonderful stuff,but the moral of my experience was/is...if you have a good system,and have been at it for a while be VERY happy!You are most likely within "so what" distance from the dream stuff.
Best.

Banpuku,thanks for the insightful info.I really enjoyed your experiences,as you relay it.
Frm my little friend's group I hear that the Zanden phonostage is amazing!Of course these guys are rabid vinyl collectors,and the ability to use different "select" curves for specific labels really turns them on.
Have you got this on your radar?
Best.

Perhaps I was misunderstood.I personally never heard the Zanden.Some of my friends are high on this design,due to different selectable RIAA curves,that one can play with.
Supposedly "fantastic" if you have a large Columbia/Decca collection of vinyl,amongst other labels."They" have this LP wealth,so are very interested.One of them heard the demo,given by Hi Fi Plus(where the unit got a rave review some time ago)at RMAF,and was extremely impressed.The various RIAA curves were utilized,from what I was told(this is only second hand,mind you)and it appeared that the Zanden was "fantastic".Especially if you have a wealth of Decca,Columbia etc classical discs.
From the input I got,the "thinning" we hear on many Columbia lp's is "dramatically" improved through the Zanden.I trust the info,since these guys are quite reliable.
Bad news....Incredibly expensive!!! No surprise there.
Best.

Patrick,interesting,and thanks for the info.The Erato label,I believe,is the Euro RCA.Not too great,but I DO have a few which are quite good.
The really early Columbia stuff is not easy to find,I think.If it's not in the stereo era,I usually don't kill my back(most of the LP's are now on the floor sections,where I get my vinyl)looking for mono stuff,though I don't rule mono out.Of course "any" good jazz lp's in mono are very desirable to me.Just the classical mono stuff does not turn me on.
BTW,Hi Fi Plus,about a year ago,actually did a very complete comparison of phono stages,where the Zanden went head to head with the Lyra.BOTH came out as the two best Roy Gregory had stated(for what it's worth).
I Do know R.G. likes the Zanden,ALOT!!!
This is just "hobbyspeak",by me,for anyone interested in hashing around this kind of stuff.Other than my own,built in,re-built/extensively modded phonostage,and the few my friends have,I cannot give accurate input on this particular subject.I Do know tube rolling with top NOS tubes made a huge improvement in the stages I have access to.No new news there,I am sure.
What we all try to get,"whether we think so or not",is the "actual sound of our cartridge"!THE most important component in the system,to my way of thinking!All other componentry should just "get out of the way".To my way of thinking(only opinion)once we get really familiar with a well voiced system,which has been carefully considered,and lived with, you kind of get a REAL sensation that the sound you are hearing is "that" of the actual cartridge!!Assuming we know what neutral componentry is!
Of course,this is taking into account we know these LP's VERY well too,which can mean we bring them to other friend's homes,as well as dealer/show set-ups to gain interesting insight.Vinylistas really have too much fun,for one lifetime!! No?
Sorry for my typical rant.I'm working on "that".Not too successfully -:)
Best.

Pedrillo,I'm totally happy for you.You semed like a fine fellow,when we met(in elevator)at HE-2007.BTW,as stated all I was doing was post some hobbyspeak.Just my "opinions",which I think I mentioned,"like three times"!These were "just impressions" made(admittedly in a dealer demo...a very "well done" one,btw)about how three different sets of electronics affected me....That's it!!
Please, don't anyone take the fun out of my posting some potentially entertaining info(to some,maybe)by making this into some reason for my having to have been politically correct,about a specific electronic "box",and why I felt another design appealed to me,in a "given" set-up.
Best.

BTW,Pedrillo,I was NOT referring to you in my last post.